Bourque leads Habs to fantasy win over Flames

Suffering Canadiens withdrawal? The Gazette has the answer with the ultimate fantasy experience as beat writer Pat Hickey and Gazette techie Eric Tobon employ EA Sports NHL 13 to produce The Season That Isn’t. Here’s how things might have looked in Tuesday night’s game between the Canadiens and Calgary Flames at the Bell Centre:

PAT HICKEY
The Gazette

An injury to Max Pacioretty has provided Rene Bourque with increased ice time and the veteran is making the most of the opportunity.

Bourque, who is playing on the top line with David Desharnais and Erik Cole, had a goal and an assist Tuesday night as the Canadiens blanked the Calgary Flames 3-0 at the Bell Centre.

“I know what Patch is going through because I missed training camp and the beginning of the season, but I’m happy that the coach has given me an opportunity to play more,” said Bourque, who underwent abdominal surgery in the off-season.

Desharnais scored the only goal the Canadiens would need when he buried the rebound after Miikka Kiprusoff made the save on Cole at 9:08 of the first period. Bourque, who came to Montreal in the trade that sent Michael Cammalleri to Calgary, had the second assist on the goal.

The Canadiens maintained that 1-0 lead until Bourque scored on a power play at 4:13 of the third period after Raitis Ivanans went off for holding.

“You have to give the credit for that goal to (Andrei Markov),” Bourque said. “I just found a spot to the side of Kipper and Marky put the put the puck right on the tape.“

Carey Price, who made 24 saves for his first shutout of the season, said he was relieved to see Bourque score.

“Our guys did a good job of limiting their chances and I don’t think I had to make any big saves, but when it’s 1-0 anything can happen,” Price said.

The Canadiens wasted a golden opportunity immediately after the Bourque goal when they enjoyed a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:37 but failed to get a shot on net. The Canadiens’ power play went 1-for-5 while the Flames were 0-for-2.

Tomas Plekanec added an insurance goal when he redirected P.K. Subban’s shot from the point at 15:06. It was the sixth goal of the season for Plekanec and that tied him for the team lead with Pacioretty, who is out with an upper-body injury.

The Canadiens will finish the week on the road with games Thursday in Winnipeg and Saturday in Colorado.

From the 7-8 Bulldogs games I’ve seen so far its much like the Habs. Good goalie, so-so defense other than Tinordi, no offense, no power play and again not much muscle and dominated physically at every level. The reason the commentators were talking about Beaulieu is that he’s been on the ice for 7 of the last 8 goals scored on the Bulldogs.

Heard on the radio today that Dalton Thrower was injured in practice yesterday in an altercation with a teammate. Didn’t catch the name of the other player. Apparently there are problems in that dressing room. Duncan Siemens, a Colorado 1st Round draft pick who was the captain last year, does not wear a letter this year. I think I read somewhere that Darren Dietz is one of 3 alternating A’s.

WOW. Beaulieu and Roy just went at it and Beaulieu destroyed him by landing 7 or 8 monster shots! Didn’t know Beaulieu was that tough!! Beaulieu was tossing the jabs and then throwing the overhand right, impressive.

LOL. I saw you guys went to a game in Hamilton a couple weeks ago. I’m heading to Toronto from Ottawa for the Dogs and Marlies game this Saturday, wondering if there will be any other fellow HIOers in attendance?

I heard it mentioned by Darren Rovell that Jose Reyes just lost about 3.3 to 3.6 million per year in income as a result of taxes in his move from Florida to Toronto. Kind of wonder how happy he will be in Jays land. I am not saying he won’t perform, but that is quite a kick in the nutsack.

I am sure he will be fine..his deal is big enough still and there will be a very comfortable atmosphere for him with many of the teams stars all from the Dominican (Bautista, Encarnancion and Reyes). The Jays are a very respected organziation in the Dominican and the fact that he is moving to a team on the upswing instead of the Marlins should make him happy from that standpoint but yeah I get what you are saying re the salary…can’t see an all star calibre player moving to a better team being upset for too long….he isn;t a fringe guy…he is a big dollar guy with enough money to but all of his family all the luxuries in life for many generations over..

Coaching my kids Peewee A team and my youngest started hockey this year (4 and half got bumped to the 6 year olds!)…playing on a couple of over 30 teams when I can make it…I have more hockey than ever right now!!! I have been reading but it is so hard to find anything new to talk about with no season so I just kind of check in every day to see what is going on. Glad to see the mainstays are all here and haven’t gone anywhere so that when the season does start the site will remain the best there is..

More ominous news early this AM. My Habs mug cracked at the handle, sending the body of it to the floor whereupon it shattered like my dream of NHL hockey for Christmas.
In the meantime, Don Fehr has taken up singing:http://calsnhllockout2012songparodies.weebly.com/

I think all of us Expos fans can understand the frustration Marlin fans are going through right now in South Florida.

Jeff (spits on ground) Loria has completely broken the promise he made to officials and fans in Miami after they paid for most of his new baseball stadium. For an idea of how the reaction is in Miami to this trade, here is an article from a Florida newspaper.

Taxpayers got fleeced. Of course maybe not as I learned yesterday that once you spend money it no longer is yours. So I guess using that logic it wasn’t taxpayers at all who got fleeced it was Loria. Hmmm?

just thought I’d jump in here to congratulate the Jays front office for this great trade. Jays GM is a Montreal native, Lower Canada College graduate, and he’s received some unwarranted criticism from Jays followers of late.

the Jays ownership has stepped up to the plate, and AA found them the blockbuster deal worth paying for.

Ed, I have been very critical of A.A. as I felt until now he has had the role of a Yes man in that organization. I don’t doubt he has an eye for talent, but prior to yesterday all I had seen from him was trades/drafts for the future and a GM who didn’t have the experience to walk into Mgmt. hallowed offices and demand money in order to build a team.

I believe the debacle of last season, combined with the embarrassing finish with Escobar and his eye black had a huge effect on the Ownership/mgmt etc of the Jays.

I am very very happy to see A.A. given the power to add payroll. This move appears to be a good move, with 1 workhorse pitcher, another pitcher who may have finally rounded the corner from injury bug and a true leadoff hitter who solidifies the middle infield.

I had pretty much given up all hope with the Jays, but am glad to see one of the wealthiest teams in baseball finally spend more money than the Royals and the Pirates.

This trade is fantastic…in the long run the Marlins get two really good prospects but there are so many pluses to this deal. As you noted the work horse vet who can also help mentor a leaderless rotation ( I think Romero got overwhelmed being the go to guy and the suppsoed vet leader). Josh Johnson has a ton of potential and all season long was said to be on the radar of both Boston and the Yanks. Reyes is the legit leadoff guy the team has needed for so long…or you could have him hit in the 2 hole and have Davis and the other speedster they acquired platoon at the top or Lawrie (options!)and have two speedster reminiscent of the White/Alomar days. Reyes is a big time player and table setter….with Encarnancion and Bautista healthy and the table set like that? who knows what can happen……realistically Lawrie will probably be at the top of the order instead of Davis/Bonifacio in which case they bat 9th and after on time through act as another leadoff. You have Arencibia and his bat with Buck also meaning the team can play Buck on days off for JP and have him bat in the DH spot…..this deal is just too good to be true on paper.
Not only does this deal seem to touch on the main needs the team had last year…they gave up Escobar who although a steady everyday player always seemed to be in a sour mood and to me eptiomized what appeared to happen last year to the mood of the Jays. Buck is another clubhouse leader…jsut a fantastic day to be a Blue Jay fan and this could go a long way to another buig signing as TO once again becomes a legit playoff contender and may help attract another big name if the organization so chooses….great deal….and could in the long run proof good for Marlins too who are clearly rebuilding but WOW…..best Jay trade since the one that transformed the organization into champs.

I am sure that Jack Todd will have something to say about Loria next Monday morning in the Gazette. I have never met Loria but my opinion of him could not be lower. I can never understand how he can get away with this crap.

And in surprising news, Bettmans old Boss David Stern isnt impressed with Donald Fehr and how he is dealing with NHL negotiations. From ESPN below

A year after a lockout that delayed the start of the season to Dec. 25, Stern was critical of hockey union head Donald Fehr for his side’s negotiating stance in the current NHL lockout. Fehr said that sports with salary caps are more prone to lockouts because of their labor structure.

Stern disagreed and said the 50-50 sharing arrangement agreed to by the NFL and NBA, and proposed by NHL owners, was fair.

“They have no choice but to stand and protect such business model as will be left when the negotiations finish,” he said.

Kudos to the Gazette team for attempting to maintain and present an impartial viewpoint.
We need our press to “be objective” instead of having “an objective”. And as with all things, there are times for exceptions.